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Bay draft racks up the rookies |
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Written by Craig Tiriana
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Thursday, 27 September 2007 |
HERE'S one for the Bay of Plenty history books.
When 19-year-old Luke Braid replaced Aiden Kuka on Saturday night, he became the 11th player to make his first-division debut for the Steamers this season.
The Tauranga Sports loosie came on in the 49th minute and became the 38th player used this year. Most Air New Zealand Cup squads number 28.
Braid joined Culum Retallick, Mat Wallis, Mike Ormsby, Jason Hona, James McGougan, Kelly Haimona, Toby Arnold, Wade Pereira, Hayden Baird and Chris Elvin in the growing record of 2007.
It's hard to believe there would have been such a year for the union since it was established in 1926. If you factor in that both Pauli Asaeli and Wally Mill hadn't played in the Steamers for some four seasons, it's obvious the Bay is in rebuild mode.
There has been so much movement, head coach Kevin Schuler admits he's lost track of how many players were introduced to this level this season.
``Eleven - I didn't realise, I knew I`d got a lot of new contracts out,'' Schuler said following Saturday's 42-24 loss to North Harbour.
With 80 minutes still left in the season - the Steamers play Wellington in Rotorua this Friday night - there's a possibility of even more personnel changes, especially once the latest arm, leg and head count takes place when they return to training today in Tauranga.
In keeping with the season's theme there are more fresh and possibly season-ending injuries following Saturday's round-nine match.
Cory Aporo pulled a hamstring, Anthony Tahana and Charles Baxter limped off, while Solomon King suffered his second major head knock in three weeks.
The energetic No8 left the field after the opening minutes covered in blood. He returned bandaged but eventually succumbed and watched most of the game from the bench.
Starting lock John Moore didn't even make it to the park, pulling up with a broken arm after the final training last week. He was replaced by Aiden Kuka, while Culum Retallick was recalled from the development side.
Schuler doesn't believe inexperience is an excuse but when dissecting their performances so far, agrees it has been a factor.
``That's where we are at the moment, we've lost a lot of experience. It's not an excuse but people have gone and so it does take a few games to come up to speed. Compound that with a few injuries and we've had 11 guys make their debut.
``It still comes down, under pressure, to who can think, who can keep communicating and get up on the line[in defence]. If we can learn from and take that and get better next year that'll be a positive.''
The Bay's inexperience was plain for North Harbour to see - they ran in six tries to four.
The home side's 42 points were the most they have posted against the Bay, most coming in the first half - 31 to be exact - when the Bay turned in their worst individual tackling effort of the year.
But the second half belonged to the Bay. The lineout delivered some ball, the scrum steadied, Mike Delany - coming from the bench - added speed to the punch and Pauli Asaeli was delivering in midfield next to Rena Schuster.
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